Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The incredible experience of witnessing the stunning views around every corner, including the sounds and smells of the countryside (herbs, flowers and fruit) which cannot be experienced in a car.  Also the high quality (and quantity) of the local food and wine which were incredibly good value in an area that I thought would be expensive.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lievan acted as the perfect guide as well as translator and local area expert on this trip (with the advantage of him being an archeologist).  His calm, professional approach and knowledge of the area gave us information/history that lazy people like myself would have had to research to find and also provided much needed breaks on those uphill climbs to point out a landmark or places of interest!!  Lieven was great company during the trip and his support in time of need (searching for medical attention on a bank holiday and acting as interpretor) was very much appreciated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the uphill climbs (take your spds/cycling shoes to take the strain off your quads) and make sure you are experienced in cycling on busy roads as it can be quite nerve racking when a coach comes round one of those tight bends in front of/behind you.The first morning included a challenging 10kms climb in the rain!!  The other days also consisted of several climbs (or 'small inclines' as described by our guide).  A good level of fitness is required to keep together as a group, however, the back up van is always close by to assist if necessary. Make sure you take adequate layers/warm weather clothes (chilly in the evening) and waterproof jacket for cycling and sightseeing as we did experience a high level of rain on our particular trip.   

Suggestions

Don't expect five star hotels.  The hotels were very basic and at best 3*.  No baths (except on the first night when we were upgraded due to the hotel being empty), no duvets only sheets and one blanket (we had to request heating and extra blankets to take the chill/damp feeling off the room.  Also make sure your bags are easy to transport and not too heavy as there are no porters and you will be expected to climb the stairs with your bags and transfer them to the van.  Having said that due to an injury (fall on the first day) I personally got help from a couple of knights in shining armour!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of some relentless cimbs still on my bike.  If I had seen the climb beforehand, I might not have believed that I could do it!  The blues and turquoises of the sea at different points was amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.  Very responsive to changes in weather and very conscious of safety on wet, slippery roads and busy traffic areas.  Bonded really well with the group and was a mine of local information.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train well and go looking for some hills to climb before you depart as there are some long switchback climbs.  Having said that the bikes are very good and you will eventually grind your way up there if you are not so fit.  Just more enjoyable to stick with the group.

Suggestions

The Salerno to Amalfi trip could start earlier on in the day to accommodate changes in weather.  The buffalo mozzarella farm visit was ok and could probably be tagged onto the previous day.  We didn't ride at all on the transfer day which I was very grateful for as the conditions were treacherous. 

Most Inspirational Moment

1. Looking from our balcony straight into Amalfi cathedral staircase and 3rd century Constinople doorway. Priceless! timeless! 2. Finding my wife (again). 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding. Dutchman totally in touch with southern Italy and the Cilento in particular, personally involved. Mother hen, good fun who understood the balence between riding all day and stopping by great places. Where can you get 2.5 course lunch with wines and liqueurs overlooking the most beautiful bay for 7 Euros. line up an I will you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Mug up on greeco Romano heritage.

Suggestions

There are 2 cycling bits. The cilento, open car free cheap, great hotels off season. great Amalfi experience of a fabulous corniche, close ars but all in control (I think). Extroadinary light, sea, sky. felt we had a bargain.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in it, is a lovely way to discover more about  a country

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was great. Really went beyond the call of duty to make us all welcome and to get to know the local areas. As well as the cycling he had much to tell us about the history, culture and food of each area we cycled to. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy yourselves. Join in with the group, you will want to anyway.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots. Just being on a bike in beautiful surroundings. Rounding a bend and to see yet another spectacular view. Making that last push before lunch and being rewarded with a delicious meal eaten outside on lovely terrace in an out-of-the-way trattoria. Swimming at a hotel's own beach at the end of long day's cycling. Climbing the steps up to Ravello and seeing Amalfi below us. Eating breakfast on the terrace above Amalfi's town square with the church's bells pealing. Being able to wander around classic ruins in Paestum without crowds or tour guides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was an absolutely fantastic group leader. From the moment he picked the group up at the airport to seeing us off very early on our day of our departure Peter really looked after us all. He was kind, knowledgeable and interesting. He paced the rides just right for everyone's ability and factored in plenty of coffee and ice cream stops. Peter knew some great places to eat and to swim and had obviously planned and researched the rides really thoroughly - he made sure that we all got the very most out of the holiday, without rushing us and was always good humoured.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like having your stuff with you, consider taking along a panier or handlebar bag  - the bikes we were supplied with had a rack for this purpose. The support vehicle was always close so people, if they wanted, could put stuff in it and get to it pretty frequently. Water was available both from the van and from fountains in villages we stopped at along the way. Padded cycling shorts are worth taking along  - even if you're a regular cyclist.

Suggestions

The roads do get a little bit more busy when you get to the Amalfi coast, but you are rewarded with spectacular views. We found cars drivers and motorcyclists to be patient and considerate wherever we cycled. Consider taking the steps up through Pontone and then on up to Ravello on your free day - it's steep, but satisfying.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling the Amalfi coast road particularly as the sun was setting behind us and the lights of Positano were appearing and twinkling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter is a superb leader who balanced the responsibilities of leadership really well. He is very knowledgable and informative about the history, geography and culture of the area plus able to find and negotiate tradional food at unbelieveably good prices.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring your swimming costume.If coming in the summer months expect it to be HOT. Even in late Sept the hill climbs were pretty hot and it was a relief to jump into the sea or pool at the end of the day.

Suggestions

Fantastic trip, just do it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Quite eyeopening to share the narrow windy roads with some rather skillful drivers who were actually quite friendly despite my previous impression of mad Italian drivers. Also findig out that our super fit cycling guide Lieven is a professional archaeologist who turned out to be our guide to the ancient Greek Temples at Paestum and our volunteered walking tour guide on our free day! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely fantastic - knowledgeable and responsible. He looked after us in all aspects in great detail -interpreter, menu translator, mechanics, navigator, road marker, shopper, tour guide for historic sights, gardens and even trekking guide for free.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Accept there are ups and downs and that is the price to pay for beautiful scenery. Worth bringing your own snacks as you may not get what you are used to but no shortage of nice coffee and smooth icecream of you are fine with those. The bike condition is good so it is not a big deal if you dont bring your own saddle or pedal but worth doing so to give you the extra comfort. Waterproof is important as weather around hills and coast is unpredictable.

Suggestions

A very interesting route indeed and we were very lucky to have some good weather, superb guide and some very witty fellow riders too.

Most Inspirational Moment

The coast ride from Amalfi and seeing Positano after a climb was amazing. If you love long fast descent, then the descent into Maiori is something that will you will not forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lieven is highly organised and easy going. He always managed to get us to great cafe stops (and I love those nice Italian Expresso); great little village lunch stops (which he will guide us on little walks round those pretty, narrow steep streets) and his archaelogy training really came to its own when he guided us round Paestum. He even spent the free day with us on a walk from Ravello down to Amalfi and visited the most perfect Italian Gardens which was most memorable. He is also a great cyclist and can outclimb all of us!

Advice for Potential Travellers

We had great weather in June but did have an occasional shower so don't forget your waterproof (that the van can carry for you and you may not need to use at all). The bikes are good and modern but I like having my own SPD pedals and saddles which are very quick to fit. Oh - and don't forget that right hand brake lever operate the rear brakes rather than the front brakes (as in the UK).

Suggestions

We were blessed with nice weather, nice group of people and the most fantastic scenery. The most surprising thing was the patience of the Italian drivers. They are actually quite used to bikes and will pass you safely or wait patiently so we always feel quite safe and didn't have any problems at all which was quite refreshing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling from Salerno into Amalfi - not a long ride but one that certainly made me take a deep breath and thank my lucky stars. On our last cycling day we pedalled the beautiful stretch from Amalfi to Positano with cosummate ease, legs and butts well adjusted and the quiet look of satisfaction on everyone's faces was priceless.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were very lucky to have Peter Hoogstaden as our group leader. He has lived in Italy for 15 odd years and with his fluent Italian, extensive local knowledge and enthusiastic attitude we all enjoyed a great week. We were taken to local spots and restaurants that were off the beaten track with a highlight being a boat ride to a simple beach restaurant for a lovely final dinner, rounded off with some seriously potent home-made liqueurs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather took us all by surprise with a cold and wet start so please pack a weatherproof jacket. There is no need to bring your own bike as the supplied bikes were perfectly adequate and the back up good.

Suggestions

I felt that the choice of some of the hotels could be better. Our first two nights were spent in Marina di Camerota and the hotel was gloomy and inhospitable, with quite inedible food. This did not create a good first impression so more research on the hotel choice is needed. The choice of tour leader is also very important, though we had a wonderful group dynamic which always makes it easier for a tour leader.

Most Inspirational Moment

That would be when one of the group arrived at the top of a hill on the last day after really struggling with the cycling for the first few days. It was great to see his improved fitness and high spirits - there is no beach in the world that could do that.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was great, shhhhimply couldn't wish for more.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're a cycling holiday virgin like I was, just give it a go!

Suggestions

The fab thing about a cycling holiday in Italy is that you can eat the pasta and pizza and still come home a few pounds lighter!